Appeals were lodged and campaigners were gearing up to fight the plans at a public inquiry.

Communities Against Digester objectors in a protest against the proposed plant last year (Image: Jerome Ellerby)

But the appeals have now been withdrawn by FD Bird and Sons, sparking jubilation among protesters.

Communities Against Digester Chairman, David Gillyon-Powell, said: “The communities have really pulled together and despite the fact that we have spent the last four years on the sheer hard work involved in battling this inappropriate development, we can thank FD Bird and Sons for bringing us closer together as residents united in a common goal.

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“This is a wonderful place to live and I am so proud of what our communities have done.

“We are under no illusions that planned development at the Yarrows site is at an end but this land should, under the terms of its temporary planning permission for aggregate extraction, be returned to rural or leisure use when the quarry is worked out.”

Leven Parish Council chairman Cllr Pat Ablett with campaigners Mark and David Gillyon-Powell outside Beverley's County Hall, where the plans were thrown out last year (Image: Katie Pugh)

Leven Parish Council chairman Councillor Pat Ablett said a planning inspector was originally due to deal with the appeals based on written representations.

But after it was decided there should be a public inquiry, the appeals were withdrawn by appellants FD Bird & Sons.

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Planning twists and turns

“We have shown Mr Bird that the wishes of the residents and our right to live our lives without an unwanted industrial plant on our doorstep is more important than the profits to be gained by one individual.”

John Bird, owner of FD Bird & Sons, said he did not wish to comment at this stage.

Previously, he had said the scheme was vital and claimed people were “absolutely insane” and “crackers” if they could not see the need to convert waste into power.